Basics
The Canaries Camel
By m.p. - Apr 4, 2011 - 1:58 PM
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The Camello Canario - EFE
The Canaries Camel is now regarded as a breed in its own right
A recent decision by the National Commission for the Preservation, Improvement and Development of Livestock Breeds has recognised the Canaries camel as a breed in its own right and has included it on the official Spanish catalogue of livestock breeds.
The Camello Canario is a dromedary, but keeps the name of ‘camel’ which has been traditionally used by the islanders. There are currently some 1,200 animals on the islands.
The first ‘Camelus dromedarius’ were brought over to the Canary Islands from Africa in around 1405, and were a fundamental tool in European colonisation of the islands. They adapted well to the local conditions and expanded throughout the archipelago, particularly in the south of Gran Canaria and Tenerife and across the islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. The animals were used to carry people and goods, and also had an important role as a draft animal in agriculture.
A report published by the genetics service of the Complutense University in Madrid notes that, ‘the Canary Islands were the origin of the first introduction of camels to the Australian continent in 1840’.
The islands’ indigenous population is the only autochthonous breed of Camelus dromedarius to be recognised in Europe and, compared with other breeds of dromedary, has a relatively strong constitution, is of medium size, and is well-proportioned. It’s a stocky beast with a well-developed chest and a muscular conformation.
Today, the Canaries camel is generally used in the tourist industry. They are used as a means of transport on excursions to the islands’ national parks and nature reserves, including the Timanfaya National Park on Lanzarote. La Opinión de Tenerife reports that the Lanzarote breeders export some of their indigenous camels to various parts of Europe, particularly to zoos and to companies which specialise in the Reyes Magos cabalgatas – the Three Kings’ Parades in January.
The recognition of the Camello Canario as a breed comes thanks to the efforts of the Camello Canario Breeders’ Association, which now has the job of drawing up a programme to improve the breed to be presented to the Canaries government.